Ben Drury

This post is long overdue as I've been meaning to write about this talented artist for sometime now. His name is Ben Drury and for several years was the creative director for the sadly defunct UK label Mo'Wax Records. His work created an identity and aesthetic for the label as well as the artists within. Famous covers such as Dr Octagon's 'Octagonecologist', Attica Blues' 'Blueprint', Unkle's 'Psyence Fiction' Money Mark's 'Cry' and DJ Krush's 'Milight' (amongst many others) were all created by none other than Mr. Drury.

Ben was born in Southhampton, located on the south coast of England where he gained a love for letters, fonts and typesetting from an interest in layout design and local graffiti. He was introduced to Mo'Wax label head James Lavelle at a photo shoot and within time became good friends through similar interests and tastes. As art director for Mo'Wax he oversaw the design of album sleeves, toys, logo's and clothes. He's also collaborated with NYC graff legend "Futura 2000" for his book respectively titled 'Futura' which focuses on his campaign with the Mo'Wax label. Most recently Nike collaborated with Ben to create a series of Air Max sneakers which can be seen here.

A few weeks ago I found a website that featured some of Ben's most memorable designs. I was amazed that this site was still up and running as it has not been updated for years! But luckily it's still there but for who knows how long? Anyway, check out how amazing some of his designs and logo creations were for the label, especially during that time. Click here for more details.

Right Nowwwwwwww...

Since we just spoke about CBGB's in my previous post I figured I would post one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands fucking shit up live at CBGB's! Actually, this show was a free surprise gig strictly for the fans. Around 10:30am on a crisp November morning in 2003, NYC's K-Rock radio station announced that Korn would do a free show at CBGB's that night and all fans needed to do is to get over there ASAP and stand in line all day. Thousands showed up, in droves! They allowed as many people as the place could fit and blew the fucking roof off, literally! Anyway, this song is a mirror of the way I feel towards most. Have a nice day!

CBGB'S Interactive

As many of you (should) know, CBGB'S was the epicenter of the NYC hardcore/underground rock/punk movement from the early 70's well into the year 2000. If you haven't heard of this joint at least once in your lifetime you need to get out of here and go play your Britney Spears records. The name CBGB stands for Country Blue-Grass and Blues. It was originally slated to cater those genre's of music during it's opening back in 1973, but soon enough a group of promoters convinced owner Hilly Krystal to start doing punk and experimental gigs and it worked well...very well. Throughout the years many of today's established artists who were just starting their careers graced the stage at CBGB'S. Band like The Police, Guns & Roses, The B52's, Radiohead, Tool, U2, Patti Smith, Hole, Soundgarden, Joan Jett, Blondie, Korn, Madonna, New York Dolls, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Disturbed, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, The Talking Heads, Bruce Springsteen, AC/DC, The White Stripes, Monster Magnet, Green Day, Television, Dave Matthew's Band, Anthrax, Cheap Trick and who can forget The Ramones. CBGB'S main focus though was really getting indie/punk bands to play nightly. Names like Agnostic Front, Christian Death, Merzbow, The Dead Kennedy's, Misfits, The Cramps, Type O Negative, The Strokes, Sonic Youth, Bad Brains, The Damned, Cro-Mags, NOFX and so many more to mention played gigs there on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the venue closed down in 2006 due to a rent dispute with the owners of the building. They were claiming Hilly owed something like $91,000 dollars of back rent. It was a very nasty, public dispute that displayed the greed of NYC as well as the change & evolution of the Bowery.

If you ever got a chance to visit this legendary venue you'll remember it's unique vibe that no other club or bar can ever compare to. The low, dank ceilings, the rickety stage, the graffiti/flyer covered walls, the smell! I was lucky enough to go twice during my three year tenure in the big apple since my old landlord's local indie band 'Vitamin-X' played there regularly. I should have gone more. He would invite me to every show, but honestly I would just go to support, not their music (sorry Mikey).

Just recently CBGB'S website launched a very cool interactive tour of the venue before everything was dismantled and closed for good. The tour takes you through every nook and cranny including the bathrooms, stage, lighting deck, back stage, the main soundboard, the entrance (with the old man at his desk as usual) and even behind the bar. It's really hi-res so you can sit there for hours and take it all in, even read the scribblings in the bathroom stalls! Step inside here and enjoy a virtual tour of the most legendary music venue of our time.

The 80's Ninja Craze

I'm not sure why, but the 80's was all about the Ninja and Martial Arts in general. For example, movies like Karate Kid, American Ninja, Revenge Of The Ninja, Pray For Death and who can forget Ninja 3: The Domination were produced. Hasbro/G.I. Joe created the best selling figures of the line, Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow which were both Ninja's. Kawasaki launched it's best selling motorcycle, the Kawasaki Ninja. And there were even a series of these magazines launched by Buddhist Priest/Ninja Master/Martial Arts instructor Stephen Hayes, which were simply titled (of course) "Ninja".

Can I just say how much I used to LOVE these Ninja mags! The art, ads, articles and photos were so dope I remember wanting to be a ninja so bad after reading one of these genuine issues. I used to buy these at my local 7-11 in my old neighborhood in Miami Beach. They were loaded with ads of the coolest and latest ninja gear and supplies like chinese stars, samurai swords, nun-chucks, ninja masks and outfits, it was a little boys dream! I bet these days these magazines would be deemed illegal. Anyway, I came across a few covers from these mags on-line. Take a look at them, read the titles and you'll see what I'm talking about. Oh yea, and who can forget Kung-Fu Sunday's on channel 33 here in Miami?!

Down On Fascination Street

Yummy, Fascination Street! Such a crisp, haunting bassline along with Porl Thompson's unforgiving guitar cries simply makes this my favorite song from The Cure. It always sends major chills down my spine every time I hear this beauty of a track. When I would do an 80's Nu-Wave set at Mass or The Kitchen Club I would always have this record in my arsenal. And every time I would play it, it would cram the dancefloor, very tightly.

Long live bear outfits and crazy hair! Here's to the good old days...

Supreme Spring/Summer '09

Last night the Supreme crew released a sneak peek look into the forth coming Spring/Summer '09 line destined to drop March 5th for NYC & LA locales and March 7th in Japan stores.

It's a pretty decent drop with vivid (and shall I say daring) colors and some pretty neat accessories to boot. I personally love how Supreme is now going hockey with those mock-up Chicago Blackhawk jersey's, they're pretty dope. And the Lou Reed collabo is pretty, meh. I'd rather rock that Issac Hayes 'Shaft' soundtrack tee any day. My favorite item this coming season though has to be that camo hoodie, and I'm totally loving the red 'Fuck You' tee.

For more info and photos click here.

I'M JUST A FAGGOT!

"Faget" is a song written and recorded by Korn for their self-titled debut album. It is the album's sixth track. The song's title is an intentional misspelling of the insult faggot.

Lead singer Jonathan Davis has stated that the song was inspired by his childhood, in which he was bullied by unidentified individuals and called a "faget" (intentional misspelling of the insult faggot).

"Everyone thinks I'm bashing gay people in this song, and I'm not. It's really about me going through high school being called 'pussy', 'queer', and all that stuff, about getting picked on by all these jocks."
– Jonathan Davis

Sometimes, people need to check themselves! Anyway, peep 1/2 a million people chanting the song in unison...Ahhhh, the angst!

I Think I Heard A Shot!

That's that shit right there!

Why worry...

...about anyone or let alone anything when you got great quality music around such as Megadeth. Fuck off the jock and sweat this...fuckerzzzz!

The Rise Of Cobra

So I'm watching the Superbowl and the awesome commercials throughout when I almost drop my Samuel Adams as I see The Baroness on T.V.! No, it's not because she's extremely hot, it's because the trailer for the GI Joe film 'The Rise Of Cobra' is on. I've been waiting almost a year and a 1/2 for this moment. From what I've heard, it supposedly is going to suck. But from what I saw, I beg to differ!

The cast consists of a variety of new and old faces. You got Dennis Quaid as 'Hawk', Marlon Wayans as 'Ripcord', Channing Tatum as 'Duke', Ray Park (dude that played Darth Maul) as 'Snake Eyes', Sienna Miller as 'The Baroness', Christopher Eccleston as 'Destro', Lee Byung-hun as 'Storm Shadow', Rachel Nichols as 'Scarlett' plus a few others. It's due August 7th, 2009 and I for one shall call out sick that Friday. This will be the movie of the summer 2009. Mark my words! Peep the trailer below.